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G—PHYSICS

G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING; COUNTING

G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements

G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer

G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form

G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means

Abstract

Translated from Chinese

这里公开了一种容性触敏器件。 Disclosed herein is a capacitive touch-sensitive device.这里描述的触敏器件的一个方面是圆形或直线形容性触敏器件所需的传感器电路的数量减少，同时保持相同的分辨率以及对单个物体的绝对位置确定。 Aspect of a touch sensitive device described herein is to reduce the number of sensors required for the circuit described linear or circular touch-sensitive device, while maintaining the same resolution, and determining the absolute position of a single object.这里描述的触敏器件的相关方面是一种编码模式，它允许容性触敏器件的每个传感器电路共享在传感器阵列中特别选定的位置上的多个电极，使得判断单个物体在该阵列上的绝对位置的能力不受损害。 Related aspects of the touch sensitive device described herein is a coding mode, which allows each sensor circuit capacitive touch sensitive device share a position on the plurality of electrodes in the sensor array specifically selected, such that a single object in the array is determined the ability of the absolute position is not compromised.

Description

Translated from Chinese

触敏器件和提高触敏器件的空间分辨率的方法相关申请的交叉引用 CROSS touch sensitive device and method of spatial resolution of the touch-sensitive device to improve REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

本申请涉及2004年8月16日递交的美国临时专利申请No. 60/522，107并要求其优先权，该临时申请与本申请具有相同的题目和发明人，并作为参考被全部包含进来。 The present application relates to U.S. Provisional Patent August 16, 2004 filed Application No. 60 / 522,107 and claims priority to the provisional application of the present application has the same title and inventor and all incorporated by reference is included in.

技术领域 FIELD

本发明总地涉及触敏器件的领域，具体地说，涉及最优化容性传感电极的形状和布局，以增加使用有限数量的传感器的传感器件的有效空间分辨率和/或物理范围。 The present invention relates generally to the field of touch sensitive devices and, more particularly, relates to the optimization of the capacitive sensing electrode shape and layout, in order to increase the effective spatial resolution of the sensor element using a limited number of sensors and / or physical range.

背景技术 Background technique

在容性触敏器件中，在它可能具有的许多传感器中的每个传感器都包括形成电容器的一个极板的导电盘和一种测量该导电盘与另一个可移动的导电物形成的电容的方式。 In the capacitive touch sensitive device, the number of sensors in each sensor may have it in a conductive plate comprises a plate forming a capacitor and measuring the capacitance of the conductive plates and the conductive material forming the other of the movable the way.该可移动的导电物典型地是利用非导电隔离体与所述导电盘保持最小距离的手指或触笔。 The movable conductive material is typically a finger or a stylus held by a minimum distance of non-conductive body and the conductive separator plate.两个导电物(导电盘和可移动的导电物）连同它们之间的非导电电介质形成了一个电容器。 Two electrically conductive substance (conductive plates and a movable conductive object) along with a non-conductive dielectric therebetween form a capacitor.本领域的技术人员公知，该电容器的电容随着所述导电物之间的距离和/或重叠的改变而改变。 Those skilled in the art is well known, the capacitance of the capacitor as the distance between the electrically conductive material changes and / or overlap is changed.在典型的器件中，导电盘（此后称为电极）的数量、电极的尺寸以及电极之间的间距决定了触敏器件的物理范围和空间分辨率。 In a typical device, the number of the conductive plate (hereinafter referred to as electrode), the spacing between the electrodes and the electrode determines the size of the physical range and spatial resolution of the touch-sensitive device.

在容性触敏器件的典型实现中，在覆盖电介质的传感器电极阵列上滑动的手指的位置是通过观测电容随着手指在表面上移动而发生的改变来确定的。 In a typical implementation of a capacitive touch sensitive device, the position of the finger sliding on the array of sensor electrodes is covered with a dielectric with the change occurring in the finger moves on the surface is determined by observing the capacitance.扫描和处理电路测量由于改变手指和给定的电极之间的重叠而发生的电容变化。 Scanning and processing circuit measures overlap due to the change between the finger and a given electrode capacitance changes.如果手指大到足以与多个相邻电极部分重叠，那么内插就允许手指位置被确定为比电极间距高得多的分辨率。 If the finger is large enough to overlap with a plurality of adjacent electrode portions, so interpolation allows the position of the finger electrode pitch is determined to be much higher resolution.内插计算遵循传统的质心公式：每个电极处的信号值的总和乘以它的坐标，再除以所有信号值的总和。 Interpolation calculation follows the traditional centroid formula: sum of each signal value of the electrode multiplied by its coordinate, divided by the sum of all signal values.该技术对于由行列电极组成的线性阵列、被布置为车轮辐条形式的径向电极阵列或者被布置为填充平面空间的二维电极阵列都同样有效。 The technology for a linear array consisting of row and column electrodes, the electrode array being arranged in radial spokes of the wheel or is arranged to form a space filling two dimensional planar array of electrodes are equally effective.旨在提高内插精度或分辨率的特殊电极形状是各种相关技术设计之间的主要区别。 Particular electrode shape intended to enhance the interpolation accuracy or resolution is the main difference between the various related art designs.

例如，授予Boie等的美国专利5，463，388教导了指尖大小的、交织的电极螺旋体，以最小化多触点传感器阵列所需的电极数量。 For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,463,388 teaches the like Boie size of the fingertip, the electrode coil interleaved, to minimize the number of electrodes required for multi-contact sensor array.交织确保了当手指集中在一个特定的电极上，而电极彼此相隔一个指尖宽度时，手指与多个电极重叠。 Interleaving ensures that when a particular focus on the finger electrode, and spaced apart from each other a finger width of electrode fingers and the plurality of electrode overlap.稳定的内插通常需要手指与多个电极连续重叠。 Stable interpolation generally requires the plurality of electrode fingers continuously overlaps.

多伦多大学Seonkyoo Lee的硕士论文"A Fast Multi-Touch-Sensitive Input Device" ( 1984)披露了正方形电极单元的虚拟组，以更快地确定在一个相邻区域内是否存在一个物体，该论文作为引用被包含在本申请中。 University of Toronto Masters Thesis Seonkyoo Lee "A Fast Multi-Touch-Sensitive Input Device" (1984) discloses a group of virtual square electrode unit to quickly determine whether there is an object in an adjacent area, as a reference the paper It is included in this application.授予Gerpheide的美国专利5，767，457披露了通过在一个物体的任一侧寻找虚拟电极组的平衡点来确定该物体的位置。 U.S. Patent No. 5,767,457 discloses a Gerpheide of the object is determined by finding the equilibrium point of the virtual electrode group on either side of a position of the object.这两篇参考文献都作为引用被包含进来。 Both of these references are to be included as come reference.

最后，全部转让给Synaptics并作为引用被包含在这里的美国专利5，543，590、 5，543，591、 5,880,411和6，414，671教导了在同一平面中的行列横跨电极的密交织，这是通过以下步骤形成的：将每行电极成形为互连的一串钻石形状，并将每列电极成形为一串钻石形状，其中心偏离行钻石中心。 Finally, all assigned to Synaptics as a reference, and U.S. Patent 5,543,590 are included here, 5,543,591, 5,880,411, and 6,414,671 teach the ranks in the same plane across the dense interleaved electrodes, it is formed by the steps of: forming each row electrode as a series of interconnected diamond shaped, and each column electrode is formed as a series of diamond-shaped, its center line offset from the center of the diamond.

但是，这样的器件还是需要对分辨率的更多改进。 However, such devices still need more improvement on the resolution.虽然可以通过增加额外的传感器元件来提高分辨率，但是对扫描时间、电路成本和功耗的规定同时驱动着系统朝着尽可能少的传感器元件的方向发展。 While the resolution can be improved by adding additional sensor elements, but the scan time, a predetermined circuit cost and power consumption of the drive system while moving in the direction of the sensor element is as small as possible.因此，在传感器阵列设计领域中需要在传感器数量有限的情况下使分辨率最大化的传感器布局。 Accordingly, it is necessary to maximize the resolution of the sensor arrangement in the case where a limited number of sensors in the sensor array design.这里公开了一种触敏器件，它解决了现有技术中对增大的分辨率和减小的传感器元件数量的需求。 Disclosed herein is a touch sensitive device that addresses the needs of the prior art to increase the number of sensor element resolution and reduced.

是圆形或直线形容性触敏器件所需的传感器电路数量的减少，同时保 It is a circuit to reduce the number of sensors required to describe straight lines or circular touch-sensitive device, while maintaining

持相同的分辨率和对单个物体的绝对位置确定。 Hold the same resolution and the determination of the absolute position of a single object.这里描述的触敏器件 A touch sensitive device described herein

的相关方面是一种编码模式，它允许容性触敏器件的每个传感器电路 Related aspect is a coding mode, which allows each of the capacitive sensor circuit of the touch-sensitive device

共享位于传感器阵列中特别选定的位置上的多个电极，使得确定单个物体在阵列上的绝对位置的能力不受到损害。 A plurality of electrodes positioned in the sensor array share the special position of the selected, such that the ability of a single absolute position of the object on the array is determined not compromised.

附图说明 BRIEF DESCRIPTION

图l图示了釆用本发明的某些教导的触敏器件。 Figure l illustrates a touch sensitive devices preclude the use of certain teachings of the present invention.具体实施方式 Detailed ways

这里描述了一种容性接触式传感器。 Herein describes a capacitive touch sensor.本发明的以下实施方式仅仅是i兌明性的，在任何方面都不应当被认为是限制性的。 The following embodiments of the invention are merely illustrative of i against, not in any way be considered as limiting.

这里描述的触敏器件通过以特定的模式分散共享电极，允许每个 A touch sensitive device described herein by dispersing the common electrode in a particular pattern, allowing each

传感器电路共享两个或更多的电极。 Sensor circuits share two or more electrodes.电极被共享的意思是：它们通过公共导体电连接到同一容性测量传感器电路，而无需复用开关。 Electrode means is shared: a common conductor is electrically connected by capacitive measurement sensor to the same circuit without multiplexing switch.优选地，分隔一对共享电极的距离，即分散距离是器件中的电极数量的三分之一。 Preferably, the common electrode spaced pair of distance, i.e. the distance is one-third the number of dispersion of the device electrodes.这里使用的触敏器件还包括特定的编码模式，使得：1)相邻的电极绝不共享相同的传感器电路；以及2)共享同一传感器电路的电极总是彼此相隔所述分散距离，即，大约相隔电极数量的三分之一。 As used herein, a touch-sensitive device further comprises a specific encoding mode, such that: 1) not adjacent electrodes share the same sensor circuit; and 2) share the same sensor circuit always separated from the dispersion of electrode distance from each other, i.e., about number of electrodes separated by one-third.

在图1中图示了包含这里的教导的触敏器件。 It illustrates a touch sensitive device including the teachings herein in FIG.容性触敏器件100 是一维圆形阵列，但是也可以使用其他布局，例如直线形阵列等。 Capacitive touch sensitive device 100 is a circular one-dimensional array, but other layouts may also be used, such as linear arrays.圆形阵列包括22个电极，编号为0-21。 22 comprises a circular array of electrodes, numbered 0-21.圆形阵列只包括ll个传感器电路。 Ll circular array includes only one sensor circuit.这些传感器电路可以采用本领域的技术人员已知的各种传感器电路的形式。 The sensor circuit of the present art known to the art may be employed various sensor circuits.在美国专利6,323,846,名为"Method and Apparatus for Integrating Manual Input"中披露了一种这样的电路，该专利作为引用被包含在这里。 In U.S. Patent No. 6,323,846, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Integrating Manual Input" discloses a circuit such, this patent is included herein by reference.通过位于每个传感器电极的外部的编号来指定对应于每个电极的传感器电路。 To specify the sensor circuit corresponding to each electrode of each sensor electrode positioned by external number.

触敏器件100因而每个传感器享有两个电极。 A touch-sensitive device 100 so that each sensor Related two electrodes.然而，可以让每个传感器享有额外的电极。 However, it can let each sensor offers additional electrode.图l中的每个电极还包括一个组指示符"A，， 或"B"。每个A组电极与一个"B"组电极共享一个传感器。如上所述， 优选的分散距离（即共享一个传感器的两个电极之间的距离）是大约传感器数量的三分之一的跨度，因而大约是器件的特征尺寸的三分之一。因此对于图1中的圆形器件而言，优选的分散距离大约是圆形的周长的三分之一，因而环绕传感器的大约三分之一。任意两个相邻的电极以及共享传感器电路的两个电极因而将是均匀间隔的，即围绕圓周的路径的三分之一。例如，A组中的电极1与B组中的电极8共享传感器l。电极l位于大约11点钟的位置上，而电极8位于大约7点钟的位置上。类似地，A组中的电极0与B组中的电极15共享传感器0。电极O位于大约十二点钟的位置上，而电极15位于大约四点钟的位置上。 Figure l each electrode further includes a group indicator "A ,, or" B ". A set of electrodes each with a" B "set of electrodes sharing a sensor as described above, the preferred distance dispersion (i.e., a share the distance between the two electrodes of the sensor) is about one third of the span of the number of sensors, which is approximately one-third of a characteristic dimension of the device. Thus for a circular device in FIG. 1, the preferred dispersing distance is about one third of the circular perimeter, thus approximately one third of the encircled sensor. any two adjacent electrodes and shared two electrodes of the sensor circuit will thus be evenly spaced around the circumference i.e. third path. For example, a group of the electrode 1 and the electrode 8 group B shared sensor l. l electrodes located on approximately 11 o'clock, and the electrode 8 located about 7 o'clock on Similarly , the electrode group 0 and group B a of the sensor electrode 15 shared O 0. electrodes located on approximately twelve o'clock, while the electrode 15 is located on a position about four o'clock.

替换地，传感器也可被构建为一维直线形阵列。 Alternatively, the sensor may be constructed as a one-dimensional linear array.对于这样一个传感器，分散模式基本上与圆形阵列相同：直线形阵列可以被视为在两个电极之间断开、不再巻曲的圆形阵列。 For such a sensor, the circular dispersion patterns substantially the same array: linear array may be considered to be open between the two electrodes, Volume longer curved circular array.同样，优选的是共享一个传感器的两个电极之间的分散距离大约是该器件的特征尺寸的三分之一，对于一个直线形传感器而言，特征尺寸就是该器件的长度。 Also, preferably the dispersion distance between the two electrodes sharing a sensor is approximately one-third of a characteristic dimension of the device, for a linear sensor, characterized in that the length dimension of the device.

显然，因为多个电极共享一个传感电路，所以不能确定与单个电极接触（靠近）的物体的绝对位置。 Obviously, since the plurality of electrodes share a sensing circuit, it can not determine the absolute position of a single electrode contact (close) and the object.为了绝对位置内插在根据此处的原理构建的器件中正常发挥作用，每个电极必须足够窄，足以使被跟踪的物体，通常是手指或者导电笔与多个（例如，两个或三个）相邻的电极重叠。 To the absolute position of the interpolation device according to the principles described herein are constructed to function properly, each of the electrodes must be narrow enough to an object to be tracked, usually a finger or a pen and a plurality of electrically conductive (e.g., two or three ) overlaps the adjacent electrodes.同样，为了消除任何不确定性，被跟踪的物体必须小于分散距离，以使它不会与任何传感器电路的两个共享电极都重叠。 Similarly, in order to eliminate any uncertainty, the object being tracked must be less than the dispersion distance, so that it and the two electrodes do not share any of the sensor circuit are overlapped.

虽然其它电极共享模式也是可能的，但是这些模式中的一些不能用于不含糊地确定手指的位置。 Although other electrode sharing mode are also possible, but some of these modes can not be used to determine unambiguously the position of the finger.例如，分散距离为阵列尺寸一半的电极布局将会失败。 For example, the dispersion distance of half the array size of the electrode layout will fail.对于圆形阵列，这将对应于圆周相对侧的电极的共享，彼此相隔180度。 For a circular array, this would correspond to a common electrode of the opposite side of circumference of 180 degrees apart from each other.无论怎样实现译码和内插，系统都无法判断手指或触笔是否真地位于沿圆周半圏的相对位置上。 Whatever that decoding and interpolation, the system determines whether or not a finger or stylus really located half rings of the relative position along the circumference.

因此每个传感器电路都与多个电极相连，所以这里图示的传感器需要以下这样的译码方法：该方法寻找具有最大信号的电极集合，然后判断两个可能的电极组中的哪一组将这些最大信号归因于邻近的而非分散的电极。 Thus each sensor circuit are connected to the plurality of electrodes, the sensor illustrated herein need this decoding method the following: The method for finding a set of electrodes having the largest signal, and then determines two possible electrode group which group will the maximum signal, not due to the dispersion of the adjacent electrodes.一旦知道了这种最佳译码，就可以在邻近电极之间开始传统的质心内插。 Once the best known of such decoding can begin conventional centroid interpolation between adjacent electrodes.为了质心计算的目的，每个传感器的全部信号都被归因于它在邻近组中的电极，而将它来自分散组的另一个电极归结为零信号，对质心的贡献为零。 For purposes of calculating the centroid of each sensor all signals have been attributed to its adjacent electrode groups, and it comes down from the other electrode of the dispersed component signals is zero, zero contribution to the centroid.假设传感器电路的信噪比足够大，那么这里描述的传感器与每个电极具有一个独立传感器的传统位置检测器具有相同的位置分辨率。 Suppose sensor circuit signal to noise ratio is sufficiently large, then each electrode sensor described herein has a conventional position detector sensor having independently the same spatial resolution.

下面的计算机指令的例子演示了在本发明中用于寻找正在接触圆形电极阵列的某个地方的手指或触笔的位置的算法。 The following example demonstrates the computer instructions in the present invention are used to find the position of the finger or stylus being in contact with a place of the circular electrode array algorithm.传感器和电极映射被保存在查找表（LUT)中，以最小化对触指位置进行译码所需的计算。 Mapping sensor and the electrode is stored in the lookup table (LUT) in order to minimize the computations required for decoding of the finger position.LUT对于每一组将电极编号映射到传感器编号(Sensor—to—A—type—electrode. Sensor—to_B—type—electrode)，映射对应于相邻电极的传感器编号（next—X—electrode—sensor ， previous_X—electrode—sensor,其中XA或B)，映射电极编号到传感器编号（Electrode—to_Sensor)。 For each set of LUT electrode number mapped to the sensor number (Sensor-to-A-type-electrode. Sensor-to_B-type-electrode), corresponding to the adjacent electrodes mapping sensor number (next-X-electrode-sensor, previous_X-electrode-sensor, wherein XA or B), electrode number to sensor number mapped (electrode-to_Sensor).这些LUT的使用简化了使用本发明计算手指位置的过程，但它们不是必需的。 Using these LUT simplifies the process of the present invention using the calculated position of the finger, but they are not required.

利用代码实现的算法的简要描述如下所迷： Code for using the algorithm of the fans briefly described as follows:

〃它通过检查与属于最大传感器的电极相邻的电极而开始。 〃 it begins by checking the electrode adjacent electrodes belonging to the maximum sensor.

9 9

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9〃通过比较在属于最大传感器的电极的任一侧的两个电极的信号强度来识别正被触碰的电极。 9〃 identifying the electrodes being touched by the signal intensities of the two electrodes belonging to either side of the maximum sensor in comparison electrode.

〃具有最大信号的组是手指触碰的一組。 〃 group having the largest signal is a set of finger touch.

虽然参照有限数量的实施方式描述了本发明，但是本领域的技术人员将会意识到很多修改和变体。 Although a limited number of embodiments with reference to the embodiment described in the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations thereof.希望所有这样的修改和变体都落在本发明要求保护的范围内。 We intended that all such modifications and variations are within the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims (11)

Translated from Chinese

1.一种触敏器件，包括： 多个触敏电极；和多个传感器电路，其中传感器电路的数量少于触敏电极的数量，使得在多于一个的所述触敏电极之间共享至少一个传感器电路； 其中，共享一个传感器电路的触敏电极中的每一个电极在空间上彼此相隔一分散距离，并且其中，每个触敏电极直接连接到一个传感器电路。 A touch-sensitive device, comprising: a plurality of touch sensitive electrodes; and a plurality of sensor circuits, the sensor circuits wherein the number less than the number of touch sensitive electrodes, such that shared at least between the electrodes of more than one touch sensitive a sensor circuit; wherein the sensor circuit share a touch-sensitive electrodes each electrode spatially dispersing a distance from each other, and wherein each of the touch-sensitive electrode is connected directly to a sensor circuit.

2. 根据权利要求1所述的触敏器件，其中所述分散距离约为该触敏器件的特征尺寸的三分之一。 The touch-sensitive device according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion distance is about one third of the touch-sensitive device feature size.

8. 根据权利要求7所述的触敏器件，其中所迷分散距离约为该直线形阵列的长度的三分之一。 8. The touch sensitive device of claim 7, wherein the distance is about one third of the fans dispersed the length of the linear array.

9. 一种跟踪随同触敏器件一起使用的物体的方法，其中所述触敏器件包括多个电极和多个传感器电路，其中至少一个所述传感器电路直接连接到一个以上的电极，该方法包括：扫描所述多个传感器电路，以收集对应于所述多个传感器电路中的每一个传感器电路的信号值；识别具有最大信号值的传感器电路；识别具有最大信号值的电极，该电极对应于具有最大信号值的传感器电路；以及参考具有最大信号值的电极和相邻的电极计算正被跟踪的物体的质心。 A method for use with an object along a touch-sensitive device tracking, wherein the touch-sensitive device includes a plurality of sensor circuits and a plurality of electrodes, wherein said at least one sensor circuit is connected directly to at least one electrode, the method comprising : scanning the plurality of sensor circuits, to collect signal value corresponding to each of the plurality of sensor circuits in the sensor circuit; identifying sensor circuit having a maximum signal value; identifying an electrode having a maximum signal value, which corresponds to the electrode a sensor circuit having a maximum signal value; and a centroid of the object and the electrode calculate a reference electrode having a maximum signal value of the adjacent being tracked.

10. 根据权利要求9所述的方法，其中，用于识别具有最大信号值的传感器电路以及识别具有最大信号值的电极所需的传感器和电极映射被存储在查找表中。 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the circuit having a sensor for recognizing and identifying the maximum signal value of an electrode having a desired maximum signal value and the sensor electrode map is stored in a lookup table.

11. 根据权利要求9所述的方法，其中识别具有最大信号值的电极的步骤包括：挑选出与具有最大信号值的传感器电路相关联的每个电极； 寻找与和具有最大信号值的传感器电路相关联的电极相邻的每个电极；比较与相邻电极相关联的信号值；以及通过选择具有带最大信号值的相邻电极的电极，识别具有最大信号的电极。 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein identifying a maximum signal value of the electrode comprising: an electrode of each selected sensor circuit having a maximum signal value associated therewith; and a sensor circuit and having to find the maximum signal value each electrode associated adjacent; comparing signal values ​​associated with adjacent electrodes; and electrodes of adjacent electrodes by selecting a maximum signal value of the band, identifying a signal electrode having the largest.

Method of and apparatus for the elimination of the effects of internal interference in force measurement systems, including touch - input computer and related displays employing touch force location measurement techniques

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